Floria Putrajaya

It was my first Floria Putrajaya and one important thing I will remember from this experience is that I should not really leave visiting a flower show to the very last day (7 June 2015) to make it there. Because flowers and plants will not be at their best after a week. Of course the cut flower exhibits were the most 'disastrous' but the garden landscape competition were still good to look at. Overall I would say that this is an event beautiful enough that I hope to put on my calendar annually. Please enjoy just a small fraction of the Floria Putrajaya 2015.

4 Dec 2015

My Taste of Trengganu

Food tastes best when savoured at the place of origin, no doubt about it. During our four-day stay in Trengganu we had the best, whether cooked by our gracious hosts, bought, or eaten out.

Our hosts, Datuk Nazli and Datin Badariah, spoilt us no end while we were staying at their Villa Casuarina in Paka, Trengganu. The lunch that greeted us when we arrived was a sumptuous spread of Nasi beriani Arab with chicken, and accompaniments of dalca, kerabu, sambal, etc. All cooked with the Trengganu touch. Really delicious! I even tried eating watermelon 'Geganu style with the rice, not as the usual dessert. For dessert, it was the man of the house's specialty - tapai with ice-cream. Truly, really delish!

                                                                     Our first sumptuous lunch spread

                                                        This tapai with ice cream was just divine!

                                         My lunch plateful of nasi campur on our second day

If our lunches were sumptuous spreads, our late afternoon teas and dinners were served alfresco. With the soft sea breeze around us and later at night, under the moon and stars, food and friends were a heady mix. Euphoric, even.

There was keropok lekor (the best I have tasted), cucur udang (also the best), ketupat sotong* (my first time trying this and I like it). Then there was a night barbecue of the freshest meat, especially seafood (including the sotong of course).

One teatime we had the pleasure of being guests of DB's mother in Kuala Trengganu. Our very elegant host prepared a whole table-full of goodies including a very delectable creme brulee. Another good friend in KT added laksang to completely satiate us.

*Ketupat sotong is the highlight of our visit here because it is squid season and the time for the International Squid Jigging Festival in Kuala Trengganu. At least three of us have expressed an interest to go squid jigging next year. We were not prepared (or scared?) for this year.

                                          The best cucur udang and keropok lekor for tea

                                          My plateful of ketupat sotong

                                         Dinner of mee goreng +, under the moon and stars

Our last dinner was even more special, because not only were we joined by our friend DR and husband, but the chicken chop was specially prepared by our host DN and served with a secret sauce. It was indeed very, very good. (So DN, when do we get the secret recipe? Just kidding!)

                                                       DN's specially prepared chicken chop with secret sauce. Yummy!

And what is a Trengganu visit without a breakfast of the ubiquitous Nasi dagang? Of course our hosts ensured we had the best in Paka during our first breakfast at their Villa Casuarina. Other breakfasts included pulut with kelapa, nasi lemak, nasi goreng, etc.

                                          The best Nasi dagang in Paka 

                                        Breakfast pulut + kelapa to eat with ikan masin or serunding

Then there was the pre-lunch snack of more sotong during our day trip to Kuala Trengganu. This time sotong bakar at the Pantai Batu Burok. Although this is not my snack of choice, some of my friends really love this.

                                                       Julia is ever smiling and ever ready to serve you from her truck

Are you drooling already? Then get up and go holiday makan-makan in Trengganu!

29 May - 1 June 2015

Charmed by the people of Kuala Trengganu

Kuala Trengganu was a day trip for us from Paka. We did the very necessary - visiting Pasar Payang (officially Pasar Besar Kedai Payang) to buy 'made in Trengganu'. The market was busy as ever, and with the start of the school holidays, even more so. I love markets, and the more chaotic the better!

Pantai Batu Burok, sotong bakar, nasi ayam lunch

An elegant host to a sumptuous tea

Again, very much in progress, what can I say?

The Pasar Besar and a Sweet Surprise in Dungun

Dungun

Pasar Besar

The sweet surprise

Very much in progress, ces't la vie!

Paka by the South China Sea

Just posting some photos here before I retrace my post later and write a proper account of our fabulous stay in Paka.

Very much in progress!
29 May-1 June 2015

A Trengganu Road Trip

It was a most interesting road trip to Trengganu and I can only try to do justice to the venture at a later date. So my posts will only be very brief introductions before I try to beef them up later. First an overall look at our Trengganu trip in late May-early June.

1. We were most graciously hosted at the Villa Casuarina in Paka; our hosts thoroughly spoilt us with very kind hospitality, including cooking up the most delectable dishes!

2. We made a road trip up to Dungun for the market, the views and a sweet surprise!

3. On another day, we went to Kuala Trengganu. Again to be received with the utmost gracious hospitality and lunch and tea treats. Also a foray into the Pasar Besar Kedai Payang.

29 May - 1 June 2015